US launched airstrikes against ISIS in Nigeria in response to persecution of Christians

The United States of America has launched a series of powerful airstrikes against the positions of the terrorist group «Islamic State» (ISIS) in northwestern Nigeria. The operation, ordered by US President Donald Trump, was in response to mass attacks and killings of civilians, including Christians, by the terrorists. The strikes were coordinated with Nigerian authorities and, according to preliminary data from the US military, resulted in the elimination of several militants.

According to the Informer, Donald Trump announced the strikes in a social media post, emphasizing that the operation was carried out on his direct order as US commander-in-chief. «Tonight, under my direct order as Commander-in-Chief, the United States launched a powerful and crushing strike against the ISIS terrorist group in northwestern Nigeria. They have attacked and brutally murdered previously innocent Christians on a scale not seen in years or even centuries! «, Trump wrote. He added that he had previously warned the terrorists of the inevitable consequences if they did not stop the violence, and the militants «got what they were promised.»

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the operation, noting that the president made it clear as early as last month that the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria and elsewhere must stop. Hegseth stressed that the U.S. Department of Defense is on constant alert, and ISIS terrorists «felt it exactly on Christmas night.»

The U.S. Armed Forces Africa Command (AFRICOM) specified that the strikes targeted ISIS camps in Sokoto State in northwestern Nigeria. The operation took place at the direction of the US President and Secretary of Defense and in close coordination with Nigerian authorities. The US military tentatively estimated that the strikes eliminated several militants of the terrorist group.

The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed cooperation with the United States, emphasizing that the strikes were directed exclusively against terrorist targets. The office said the country was committed to protecting the rights of all citizens, regardless of religion or ethnicity. The special adviser to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, Daniel Bwalya, added in a comment to CNN that the U.S. and Nigeria share a common stance in the fight against terrorism. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu released a Christmas address on Dec. 24 in which he congratulated Christians and assured that authorities would do everything possible to ensure religious freedom and protect both Christians and Muslims from violence.

These strikes were the first practical step after Donald Trump’s harsh rhetoric in November, when he urged Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to «prepare for possible actions» to protect Christians in Nigeria.

Recall, there was a mass kidnapping in the Niger state of Nigeria: on November 22, 2025, an armed group attacked St. Mary’s Catholic School, taking 303 students and 12 teachers hostage. Although 50 children managed to escape, the fate of 253 students and 12 teachers remains unknown, which has caused serious concern both domestically and internationally.